Paulo Sergio convinced to take Hearts job by former Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes

New Hearts manager Paulo Sergio has revealed that it was former Rangers
midfielder Pedro Mendes who convinced him he should move to Scotland.

Baptism of fire: Paulo Sergio makes his Hearts bow against Paksi in the Europa LeaguePhoto: PA

By Ewing Grahame

10:30PM BST 03 Aug 2011

Sergio worked with the former Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth playmaker at Sporting Lisbon last season and consulted the veteran before accepting the offer to succeed Jim Jefferies at Tynecastle.

The Portuguese also stressed that, while he would happily discuss team affairs with meddlesome owner Vladimir Romanov, he would brook no interference from the Russian.

Sergio has a baptism of fire on Thursday night when Hearts host Hungarians FK Paksi in the second leg of their Europa League third qualifying round.

Having drawn 1-1 away from home, Hearts will expect to progress and Sergio revealed that he has consulted with first-team coach Gary Locke, who will be retained in spite of the departure of Jefferies and his assistant, Billy Brown, about the make-up of tonight’s side.

The 43 year-old was also frank as to why he chose to work for an employer who has fired more underlings than Lord Sugar.

“I was unemployed and they made me an invitation,” he said. “Listen, I probably shouldn’t say this but in Portugal and the other Latin countries it is normal for the person who owns the club to want to buy players and change the coach often.

“The directors at Hearts are responsible people: no one wants instability, not even Mr Romanov. He believed that something wasn’t functioning and I just hope that it functions with me.

“I spoke with Pedro Mendes when this offer came because I knew he had played over here with Rangers. He told me not to think twice about taking the job and insisted that I would love it.”

However, when even successful managers are removed at the whim of the owner, one wonders for exactly how long Sergio will enjoy the ride.

Certainly, he seemed confident enough in his declaration that he would not allow Romanov to influence his selections.

“I love to talk about football and there will be issues I must discuss with the owner,” he said.

“If Mr Romanov wants to talk about players that won’t be a problem. However, when it comes to decisions about the team they will be mine. If he tries to interfere? Maybe I buy the club from him and he can coach the team!”

Sergio has never met his predecessor but has acquiesced to a request from him to come to the club’s training ground tomorrow in order to say goodbye to the players.

“It was not my responsibility Jim was sacked,” he said, although he admitted that his agent was contacted about the post last week several days before Jefferies’ dismissal.”

The new man claimed that he walked out on Sporting Lisbon last season because promises made to him at the start of the campaign had not been kept. Was he confident that Romanov would keep his word?

“I’ve been here for 48 hours and if I didn’t believe that it would be better if I left now,” he said, claiming that Romanov had not set him specific targets.

“He just wanted a different coach and a different type of football. I say 'different’ rather than 'better’ because he came from one school and I come from another one.”

Meanwhile, Romanov continues to utilise the club’s official website to tilt at windmills, attacking critics of his decision to sack Jefferies and Brown.

“Judging by the pre-planned squeals the media monkeys are making, Hearts has hit the point with the move,” he said. “I believe that with only one competitive win in 15 games, only fools and idiots would not raise questions and suspicions.